Amanda's film scrutinises the turbulent changes of female puberty in a refreshing style that merges genres and takes a playful, cheeky dig at society (Photo: Ghost Grrrl Pictures)
The versatile filmmaker and director Amanda Nell Eu can now add another feather to her crowded hat: Her debut feature film Tiger Stripes has just won the Grand Jury Prize of the 62nd Semaine de la Critique, a section of Cannes Festival dedicated to discovering first and second-feature films by moviemakers from all around the world.
International Critics’ Week jury president Audrey Diwan praised her maiden outing for being “irreverent and uncompromising.”
[It] does not try to please, it is content to fully assume its seductive singularity. It was the first film of the selection that we saw. It has passed the test of time,” she added.
Amanda broke the news of her achievement on her Instagram, where she shared how Tiger Stripes edged out seven other films running for the accolade. The multi-hyphenate will be taking a home prize of €10,000 (MYR 49,400) in cash. It is also important to note that the film is produced under her own production company, Ghost Grrrl Pictures.
Tiger Stripes tells the story of a 12-year-old girl who cannot make sense of what is happening to her body as she matures and goes through puberty. After being ostracised from her local community for undergoing an unusual metamorphosis, she eventually rediscovers and embraces her sense of self.
The Semaine de la Critique was founded in 1962, and Tiger Stripes is the fourth-ever local effort to be screened there since 2010. The last Malaysian film that made it to the event was Woo Ming Jin’s The Tiger Factory.
See the full list of winners of the Cannes 62nd International Critics' Week below:
Grand Prix / Grand Prize: Tiger Stripes by Amanda Nell Eu
Prix French Touch du Jury / French Touch Prize of the Jury: Il pleut dans la maison (It’s raining in the house) by Paloma Sermon-Daï
Prix Découverte Leitz Cine du court métrage / Leitz Cine Discovery Prize for Short Film: Boléro by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Prix Fondation Louis Roederer de la Révélation / Louis Roederer Foundation Rising Star Award: Jovan Ginić for Lost Country de/by Vladimir Perišić
Prix Fondation Gan à la Diffusion / Gan Foundation Award for Distribution: Pyramide Films, distributeur français / french distributor for ان شاء الله ولد / Inshallah a boy / Inchallah un fils de/by Amjad Al Rasheed
Prix Canal + du court métrage / Canal + Award for Short Film: Boléro by Nans Laborde-Jourdàa
Prix SACD / SACD Award: Iris Kaltenbäck, autrice writer of Le Ravissement (The Rapture)
Read more about Amanda's achievements in our May 8 cover story here.
